The Eagles 2020 season is set to kick off in just 37 days, which is hard to believe when you consider the last time anybody saw this team on the field together was their playoff loss back in January to the Seattle Seahawks.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic washing away the offseason, however, it seems like the Eagles will indeed be playing games this season.
As we wait for football to return into our lives, here are a collection of both real over/unders and ones that I came up with for the 2020 season:
Over/Under: 3,900.5 yards for Carson Wentz (via PARX casino)
Analysis: The real question with this one is how many games will Wentz play. If he plays a full 16-games it is hard to see him falling under the 3,900, as he finished with 4,039 yards last season. That was in a year where he struggled for long stretches and dealt with a ton of injuries at the receiver position. The issue? Wentz has only played 16 games twice in four years, and while 3,901 yards sounds very obtainable, he has only finished over that total once in his career.
Pick: Under
Over/Under: 5.5 passes by Jalen Hurts
Analysis: Like the first question, this one really comes down to two questions, and they both involve Wentz's health. First, will Wentz play 16 games, Second, if he doesn't, who comes in? While sitting Hurts if Wentz was hurt might be unpopular with the fans, the Eagles really do seem committed to Nate Sudfeld as their backup. That decision does make some sense considering he has three years in the offense, while Hurts has gone without OTAs, minicamps, preseason games and will have an abbreviated training camp. I don't believe Hurts will throw more than 5.5 passes on trick plays, and I think if Wentz goes down for either one game or a stretch in a game, the Eagles will go to Sudfeld first.
Pick: Under
Over/Under: 11.5 games for DeSean Jackson
Analysis: Jackson has played under 12 games just three times in his 12 NFL seasons, so while he does deal with nagging injuries often, he has rarely been sidelined for long stretches. Of course, that is exactly what happened last season, and Jackson is a year older as he enters the 2020 season. It will have been almost a full year since Jackson initially suffered his abdomen injury when the Eagles kickoff in Week 1. Expecting 16 games out of Jackson is unrealistic, but the guess here is that he is able to stay mostly healthy in 2020.
Pick: Over
Over/Under: 11.5 games started by Jason Peters
Analysis: Like Jackson, Peters has a reputation for always being injured — but has done a pretty good job staying on the field overall. Yes, Peters misses snaps at times during games, but he has played at least 13 games in four of the last five seasons — and has played 16 games in four of the last seven. The question is whether being inside at right guard, instead of on an island at left tackle, increases the chances of Peters being injured. It might slightly, but barring a serious injury — which Peters has only suffered twice in his 16-year career — recent history shows he will likely be able to stay on the field this season.
Pick: Over
Over/Under: 650.5 receiving yards for Jalen Reagor (via PARX casino)
Analysis: This is the official over/under for Reagor's rookie season. It feels way too high. Reagor will be coming into the season with no offseason and no preseason. If everyone is healthy, he will be — at best — the fourth option in the offense, coming behind Jackson, Zach Ertz and Miles Sanders. He might be behind Dallas Goedert as well. Considering the Eagles didn't have a single receiver finish over 500 yards last season, it is tough to see Reagor coming in and getting close to 700 yards. He could get close if Jackson misses significant time, but even then, the Eagles are going to prioritize the tight ends and the running backs before they would make Reagor a big part of the offense.
Pick: Under
Over/Under: 1,375.5 total yards for Miles Sanders (via PARX casino)
Analysis: There is a lot of uncertainty in the 2020 season. This is not one of them, as Sanders is absolutely going to crush this over. The Eagles' No. 1 running back finished with 1,327 total yards last year, despite the fact he was a part-time player for a good portion of the season. While the Eagles will be careful not to run him into the ground, Sanders should get far more than the 229 touches he did last season. Look for Sanders to finish with closer to 1,800 yards if he plays 16 games.
Pick: Over
Over/Under: 18.5 combined sacks for Fletcher Cox, Malik Jackson, Javon Hargrave
Analysis: 18.5 sounds like a high number — and it is. But when you consider how often the Eagles are going to try to get all three onto the field, and how much they need the defensive tackles to dominate this season, 18.5 should be within reach. If Cox has a bounce back season, and finished with eight sacks, that means Hargrave and Jackson need 11 combined to hit the over. Hargrave, the Eagles' top free agency signing, should be good for six. Can Jackson get to at least five? If healthy, it is possible. If the trio gets close to this total the Eagles will be happy.
Pick: Under
Over/Under: 2.5 sacks for Genard Avery
Analysis: The Eagles clearly feel Avery can be at least a rotational piece on their defense. They wouldn't have traded a 4th-round pick for him if they didn't. The question is whether they are correct. We will find out this year, as Avery is going to be given every chance to carve out a role on the defense. With a full offseason to have learned the defense, and half a season already under his belt, the Eagles need to hope Avery gets over the 2.5 sacks.
Pick: Under
Over/Under: 59.5 catches for Greg Ward
Analysis: This might sound crazy high for Ward — but it isn't. Ward finished with 28 catches in six games last season, which projects to 74 over 16 full games. Chances are Ward won't be getting the same amount of targets he was last season, but it is possible he does, considering Jackson staying healthy is a question mark and the Eagles have no sure-thing at receiver behind him. Ward not only knows the offense, but it is clear Wentz trusts him, and the quarterback has been known to play favorites. Ward ending up as one of the main receivers next season isn't as crazy as you might think.
Pick: Under
Over/Under: 6.5 total touchdowns for Boston Scott
Analysis: Another number that might be too high, but Scott finishing with eight touchdowns isn't impossible. Scott finished with five touchdowns on 85 touches last season, a number that should go up this year. Scott racked up the five touchdowns because the Eagles trust him a the goal line, much like they were comfortable giving the ball to Darren Sproles near the goal line as well. Scott is the clear-cut No. 2 running back, and if Sanders were to go down, he would take over the majority of those touches.
Pick: Over
You can reach Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!
